Composite bushing



April 20, 1937. F. E. RICE 2,077,584

COMPOSITE BUSHING Filed May 29, 1935 Z Z EJ YEF fizz? 6. 133206.

Patented Apr. 20, 1937 PATEN COMPOSITE BUSHING Frank E. Rice, Detroit, Mich., assignor, by mesne assignments, to American Tap'Bush Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application May 29, 1933, Serial No. 673,499

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to composite bushings and has to do more particularly with tap bushes so constructed as to be readily applicable to steel barrels.

An object of the present invention is to provide improved tap bushes for steel barrels.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a composite tap bush which may be welded in place in a metal barrel or keg and which is formed of two members which are intimately connected together toprovide a unitary structure, one of the members possessing such metallurgical characteristics which permit welding it to a metal barrel orkeg.

The above, other and further objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description, accompanying drawing, and appended claims.

One embodiment of the invention contemplates the provision of a preformed steel shell, preferably of stainless steel or any soft steel, in which a cast metal switch is cast and with which said switch becomes intimately and permanently connected. The shell is utilized as part of the mold for the cast metal switch.

The accompanying drawing illustrates a composite bushing embodying principles of the present invention, and the Views thereof are as follows:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partially in section, of a tap applied to a composite bushing, of the present invention, which bushing in turn is secured in a steel barrel, a fragmental portion only of the steel barrel being shown.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the upper or outer face of the composite bushing of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken substantially in the plane of line III-III of Figure 1.

The drawing will now be explained.

A fragmental portion of a double shell steel barrel is illustrated in Figure 1 with the. outer shell designated as l and the inner shellas 2.

A composite bushing is. inserted in a bunghole, designated at A, in Figure 1, with the opening in the outer shell I of greater size than the opening in the inner shell 2.

The composite bushing there illustrated consists of a shell or outer member 3, which is preferably of stainless steel, and preformed to provide the ultimate shape desired and the switch or inner part, designated generally at B.

The shell 3 is dished to provide an annular attaching flange 4, a centrally disposed upstanding collar or tube portion 5 and a recessed body. Formed in the interior of the shell are grooves or indentations 6 and 7 into which flows the molten metal for forming the cast metal switch B, thus providing interlock between the shell 3 and the switch B.

The shell 3 serves as a mold or pattern for the exterior of the switch B and becomes intimately associated with the switch .3 in permanent relationship, by reason of the fact that the switch B is cast in the shell 3 as a mold.

In casting the switch B, suitable cores are utilized so as to form an upstanding'sleeve or neck 8 about the upstanding tube 5 of the shell 3. The upper end of the sleeve 8 is provided with an outwardly directed cam flange 9, provided at diametrically opposite points with notches it] for receiving the inturned lugs ll of a tap, designated generally at C. The outer face of the flange 9 is preferably spherical in section for a purpose to be later explained. The switch B is 50- cast as to provide an outwardly extending: annular flange 4w overlying the flange l of the shell 3.

The composite bushing is applied to the outer shell I prior to the installation of the inner shell 2. The composite bushing is secured to the shells;

l and 2 by welding, as indicated at 2.

The tap C is provided with the usual connecter ring or thimble it which is provided with the inturned lugs I I for cooperating with the flanges 9 of the switch. The thimble i3 is removably connected to the body of the tap C by a threaded ring l4 which is freely rotatableon the body and arranged for threaded engagement with the thimble i3, in the usual manner.

The inner end of the body of the'tap C is inclined or upwardly divergently, so as to dish the washer l5 as the thimble i3 is tightened in hooking engagement with the flanges 9 of the switch, for effecting the gastight joint between the tap C and the interior of the barrel.

The switch B is designed to correspond in size and shape with the switches now in use in wooden kegs or barrels so that the taps now on hand may be readily applied'to steel barrels equipped with switches of the present invention.

The tap C is applied to a composite bushing of the present invention, by applying it with its inturned lugs overlying the notches ill in the sleeve of the switch B whereupon the tap is lowered and turned until the lugs ll strike stops l6 formed as integral parts of the casting of the switch B.

The shell 3, as before stated, is made preferably of stainless steel so as not to be affected by the barrel contents, such as beer. The provision of the shell 3 surrounding the cast metal switch B enables ready application of the composite bushing to steel barrels as there are thus provided sufficient surfaces of proper material and of suitable fusible characteristics for welding purposes.

The tap C, of Figure 1, is illustrated as partially turned in its application to the switch B. When fully turned into operative position, the flange ll, of the connecter ring or thimble l3, will bear against the flange ll of the switch B.

It is commercially desirable to make that portion of a tap bush, which interlocks with a tap, of cast metal. In applying tap bushes to steel barrels, it was found that a bush made Wholly of cast metal, could not be readily and economically welded to the steel barrel. This is because of several dissimilar characteristics present in the cast metal of the bush and the low carbon content of the steel utilized for making the barrel bodies.

The grain structure and composition of cast metal and soft metal are quite dissimilar, likewise the melting points are different so that welding of these metals of dissimilar characteristics is very impractical. The variation of the melting point of these two metals seriously hinders the fusing of the welding metal and furthermore is almost impossible to obtain a proper flux for properly welding the cast metal to the soft metal of the barrel body.

Another characteristic of cast iron, which makes it difficult to weld to mild steel, is the extremely high coefiicient of expansion of the cast iron.

The present invention enables the use of a composite bushing for welding to steel barrels, wherein a shell of mild steel is provided for welding or fusing to the barrel body, and which carries an inner part of cast iron forming the necessary flanges and notches for cooperation with a tap for interlocking the tap to the bush.

The invention has been described herein more or less precisely as to details, yet it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited thereby, as changes may be made in the arrangement and proportions of parts and equivalents may be substituted,v without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A composite tap bush for a steel barrel comprising a shell of stainless steel adapted to be welded in an opening in the barrel, a tap attaching cast metal switch disposed within and completely covering the interior of said shell, and said shell and said switch having interfltting projections and recesses for preventing relative rotation of said shell and switch.

2. A composite tap bush for a steel barrel comprising a dished metal switch having an outturned annular flange and a central upstanding sleeve or neck for a pump rod, the outer end of said sleeve having an outwardly projecting flange with spaced notches in it for receiving the lugs of a tap connector, a shell of stainless steel surrounding the exterior of said switch and extending within said neck, said shell having parts adapted to be welded in an opening in a steel barrel for securing said switch in said barrel, and said shell and said switch having interengageable projections and recesses for interlocking the same against relative rotation.

3. A composite tap bush for a steel barrel comprising an outer or shell part of mild steel having substantially the same fusible characteristics as the barrel, and an inner part or switch providing the usual cam flange for receiving a tap in connected relation, interengaging projections and recesses on said parts permanently connecting the parts together against relative rotation.

at. A composite tap bush for a steel barrel comprising a shell or outer part of sheet metal recessed or dished to provide a body with an exterior annular attaching flange and a central upstanding tube for receiving a pump rod, an inner part or switch in said shell and conforming generally to the interior .of said shell and surrounding said tube providing a neck and having adjacent the upper end of said neck the usual cam flange for receiving a tap in connected relation, and the upper end of said tube being flared over the upper end of said neck to connect together said shell and inner part in permanent relation and to prevent relative movement between said inner part and said shell, and said inner and outer parts having interengageable portions for preventing relative movement of said parts.

5. A composite tap bush for a steel barrel, said bush being formed of wrought and cast metal so constructed as to present a portion of the wrought metal for welding to a steel barrel; said bush comprising an outer dished shell of low carbon steel, such as stainless steel, and an inner part of cast metal to provide the usual flanges for receiving a tap in connected relation; said outer shell having portions adapted to be welded in a bush opening in a steel barrel whereby parts of the bush of substantially the same fusible characteristics as said barrel are" presented for welding to the barrel, and said shell and inner part having cooperating projections and receses for preventing relative rotation between them.

6. A composite tap bush for a steel barrel, said bush comprising an inner part or switch and an outer part of substantially the same fusible characteristics as the steel barrel, said inner part being fashioned to provide the usual flanges and notches for receiving a tap in connected relation, and said inner and outer parts having cooperating projections and recesses for preventing relative rotation of said parts.

'7. In equipment for a container, a member comprising an annular bottom and inner and;

outer side walls, a second member fitting said inner wall and provided around its upper end with oppositely related outwardly extending flanges forming notches between their ends and ribs extending longitudinally of said second member and.v

disposed in diametrical relation and each remote from one of said notches, the end portion of the inner wall extending over into engagement with said second member to secure it in position and interlocking means for preventing rotation of said second member relative to said first member.

8. In equipment for a container, a member comprising an annular bottom and inner and outer side walls, a second member fitting said inner wall and provided around its upper endwith oppositely related outwardly extending flanges forming notches between their ends and ribs extending longitudinally of said second member and disposed in diametrical relation and each remote from one of said notches, the end portion of the inner wall extending over into engagement with said second member to secure it in position and interlocking means between the lower end of said second member and said first member for preventing rotation of said second member relative to said first member, said welded in an opening in a barrel, a switch dismeans comprising spaced recesses formed in the posed within said outer part, and said outer part metal wall of one of said parts and spaced pins and switch having interfitting projections and carried by the other part and extending into recesses for preventing relative rotative move- 5 said recesses. ment between them and cooperating to produce a 5 9. A composite tap bush for a steel barrel comunitary structure. prising an outer part of steel adapted to be FRANK E. RICE, 

